By Texas Bail Enforcement Association (TXBEA)

On June 17, 2026, a routine fugitive recovery assignment involving a single misdemeanor warrant quickly turned into a dangerous confrontation that highlights a major deficiency in Texas' current bail enforcement system.

Texas bail bonds investigator Brandon R., a member of Red Team Fugitive Investigation Group, was attempting to apprehend Crystal Ann Rabago, age 39. At the time, Roberts had been provided only one active warrant for Rabago—a relatively minor charge. Based on the information available to him, the operation was approached accordingly.

What investigators did not know—and had no legal means of discovering—was that Rabago had numerous additional warrants and criminal holds from multiple jurisdictions for both misdemeanors and felonies.

Following her arrest, records revealed that Rabago was charged with: 

• Second Degree Felony – Possession of Controlled Substance PG 1/1-B (4g–200g) 

• Multiple Out-of-County Felony Warrants

• Multiple Out-of-County Misdemeanor Warrants

• Additional controlled substance charges

In total, Rabago was being held on ten separate charges and warrants.

Information That Investigators Simply Cannot Access

Unlike law enforcement officers, licensed bail bondsmen and licensed bail bond investigators in Texas do not have access to TCIC or NCIC databases. Investigators are generally limited to the information provided by their own bonding company or court records they can locate independently. Often times, even the local Sheriff's Office or Clerk of Court will not cooperate with providing any confirmation of warrants being active. A dangerous situation that needs to be addressed.

As a result, investigators routinely approach subjects without knowing:

• Whether the individual is wanted by other agencies.

• Whether additional felony warrants exist.

• Whether the person has recently committed violent offenses.

• Whether other jurisdictions have placed holds on the defendant.

• The overall level of risk posed by the fugitive.

In this case, investigators believed they were dealing with one relatively minor warrant when, in reality, the defendant was wanted on numerous charges from multiple jurisdictions with a much larger incentive to fight and attempt flight.

That lack of information contributed to an incident that never should have occurred.

A Danger to Everyone Involved

This issue affects far more than investigators.

Incomplete information creates unnecessary dangers for:

• Licensed bail bond investigators.

• Bail bondsmen.

• Defendants and fugitives.

• Family members present during apprehensions.

• The public.

• Responding law enforcement officers.

Had investigators known that Rabago had multiple felony warrants and holds from various agencies, the approach to the apprehension would have been significantly different.

More resources could have been deployed. Additional planning could have been conducted. Tactics and safety considerations would have been adjusted accordingly.

Instead, investigators were operating blindly, which is often the case.

What TXBEA Is Requesting

The Texas Bail Enforcement Association is not requesting unrestricted access to TCIC or NCIC databases.

Rather, TXBEA is requesting that the State of Texas create a secure statewide warrant verification system specifically for licensed bail bondsmen and their licensed investigators.

The system should simply confirm whether a defendant has warrants anywhere in Texas and provide:

• Date of the warrant.

• Charge description.

• Classification of the offense (Class C, Class B, Class A, State Jail Felony, Third Degree Felony, etc.).

• The agency or county holding the warrant.

• Contact information for that agency.

No investigative reports, criminal histories, or sensitive law enforcement intelligence would be required.

The purpose would be safety—not investigation.

A Common-Sense Solution

Bail bond investigators perform a unique public safety function. Every year, they locate and surrender thousands of fugitives who have failed to appear in court. Yet they often do so without access to information that could significantly reduce the risk of violence and injury.

Providing licensed professionals with a limited verification system would:

• Improve officer and investigator safety.

• Reduce the likelihood of use-of-force incidents.

• Enhance coordination with local law enforcement agencies.

• Improve apprehension planning.

• Increase public safety.

• Protect defendants and their families from unnecessarily dangerous encounters.

Time for Change

The confrontation involving Crystal Rabago should serve as a reminder that information saves lives.

No investigator should unknowingly approach a fugitive with multiple felony warrants while believing they are dealing with a single minor offense.

No defendant should be placed into a situation where inadequate information increases the likelihood of a physical confrontation.

And no system intended to promote justice should require licensed professionals to operate with one hand tied behind their backs.

The Texas Bail Enforcement Association believes that a limited statewide warrant verification system is a practical, reasonable, and common-sense reform that would make Texas safer for everyone involved.

Information saves lives. Texas legislators should act accordingly.